System for applying a chemical to vegetation

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a system for applying a chemical, such as an herbicide, to a surface. A chemical reservoir stores a quantity of the chemical for dispensation to the surface. A flow control unit in fluid communication with the chemical reservoir has a conduit in which the chemical flows. The flow control unit is adjustable to control the rate of chemical flow in the conduit. At least one wiper assembly is in fluid communication with the flow control unit. The wiper assembly includes at least one wick sheet which receives and absorbs the chemical received from the flow control unit and applies the chemical to the surface via a wiping action.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the application ofchemicals to vegetation, and in particular, to a direct-contactapparatus for the application of herbicide to undesired vegetationwithout disturbing desired vegetation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Efficient methods of weed control are essential in order to maximizecrop yield using modem agricultural techniques. Weeds are most easilyeliminated through the effective use and application of chemicalherbicides. Costly herbicides must be applied efficiently. So-called“selective” herbicides contain chemical agents formulated for use withspecific types of vegetation. In contrast, non-selective herbicidescontain an active chemical agent which kills all vegetation with whichit comes into contact. Such non-selective herbicides are therefore lessexpensive to produce than selective herbicides, and may effectively killall forms of undesirable weeds. However, in applying non-selectiveherbicides, care must be taken to apply the chemicals in a manner thattargets weeds alone, and not valuable crops.

A common method for applying herbicides is direct spraying. Spraying ofherbicides suffers from the disadvantages of requiring relatively heavyand expensive equipment. Also, non-selective herbicides can not beapplied using this technique because both crops and weeds would beaffected. Even when selective herbicides are used, spraying stillsignificantly wastes the herbicide as it is applied on both the cropsand the weeds. Thus, efficient use of non-selective herbicides requiresa system that minimizes waste and provides for a uniform, controlledapplication.

A relatively new method of weed control that is particularly suited forthis purpose is a direct contact application technique, using aso-called “wick applicator”. Wick applicators are an example of directcontact applicators which directly apply the herbicide to weeds byrubbing an absorbent wick-like structure saturated with herbicide ontothe weeds. Wick applicators are advantageous to use since comparativelynew “systemic” herbicides, as opposed to traditional conventionalherbicides which burn vegetation, may be used with such applicators.After contact, a systemic herbicide is absorbed by the vegetation andpermeates the root systems to kill weeds without affecting the soil.

Mechanisms which employ wick applicators mounted to farming vehiclesthat traverse crops and apply herbicides through a wiping action areknown. Due to the variety of crops, a wick applicator's particularstructure is dictated by the size, layout, and density of the weedsrelative to the crops. Since many weeds tend to initially outgrow cropsin the early stages of growth, several direct contact applicators havebeen developed to take advantage of this differential in plant height.For example, devices in which a wiper bar is mounted to a hydraulicpositioning assembly adjusted to conform to the nominal height of weedswhile remaining above the crops growing below are known. However, cropswhich outgrow the nominal height of the weeds are subject to destructionby the applicator mechanism coming into physical contact therewith. Thistechnique is also inherently inefficient in that it targets weedsrelatively late in their growth cycle, in which the weeds have alreadydiverted a significant amount of soil nutrients from the crops.

Also, in applying herbicide in a wiping action, the amount of herbicideapplied is a function of the time in which the herbicide-saturated wickis in contact with weeds as the apparatus traverses the field. Toincrease this contact time, devices which take advantage of verticalwick positioning have been proposed. These devices provide structures inwhich the angular orientation of the wick with respect to the directionof travel of the tractor allows for greater contact time. However, thesedevices suffer from the disadvantage of using rope-shaped wicks with alow relatively low contact surface area and thus a low contact time.

Another shortcoming of the known structures is that they fail to workwhen applied to crops with furrows, or spaces between rows of plants. Toeffectively target weeds in furrows before they have appreciably grown,direct contact applicators must conform to the particular shape of thefurrows. Known devices use a deformably rigid wick applicator of annularshape with a relatively low contact surface area. This arrangement isdisadvantageous because the applicator must be manually deformed toconform to the particular shape of different furrows. The manualdeformation requirement results in a relatively low contact time withthe weeds, the failure to contact and apply chemicals to the weeds andundesired contact with seeded areas and wanted vegetation.

Thus, it is desirable to have an apparatus for applying chemicals tovegetation, in particular non-selective herbicidal chemicals, which issuitable for use in furrows having varying cross-section, and which hassufficient flexibility so as to closely conform to the contours of thefurrows. It is further desirable to provide a large applicator contactsurface area to apply the chemical to the weeds. And it is furtherdesirable to provide an injection system to uniformly distributechemical in a controlled and efficient manner from a supply source ontothe applicator surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention advantageously provides a system for applying achemical, such as an herbicide, to a surface. For example, the systemprovided by the present invention makes the application of anon-selective herbicide to undesired vegetation growing in a furrowefficient, cost effective and convenient.

One aspect of the present invention provides a chemical applicatorapparatus for applying a chemical from a chemical supply source to asurface, in which an intake manifold has at least one fluid receivingopening and at least one fluid distribution opening. Each fluidreceiving opening receives a chemical flow from the chemical supplysource and each fluid distribution opening distributes the receivedchemical flow. At least one planar interface element is in fluidcommunication with a respective fluid distribution opening. Each planarelement receives the chemical flow from the fluid distribution opening.At least one wick sheet is coupled to and is in fluid communication withthe at least one planar interface element. Each wick sheet absorbs thechemical flow from the at least one planar interface element and appliesthe chemical flow to a surface in contact with the wick sheet.

As another aspect, the present invention provides a system for applyinga chemical to a surface, in which a chemical reservoir storing aquantity of chemical for dispensation to the surface is provided. A flowcontrol unit is in fluid communication with the chemical reservoir, andincludes a conduit in which the chemical flows from the chemicalreservoir through to at least one wiper assembly. The flow control unitis adjustable to control the rate of chemical flow in the conduit. Eachwiper assembly is in fluid communication with the flow control unit. Atleast one wick sheet is coupled to the wiper assembly. Each wick sheetabsorbingly receives the chemical from the flow control unit andwipingly applies the chemical to the surface.

As yet another aspect, the present invention provides a chemicalapplicator apparatus for applying a chemical from a chemical supplysource to a surface. The applicator comprises a frame, at least one wickassembly coupling member, and a plurality of wick assemblies. Each wickassembly coupling member has a first end portion adjustably coupled tothe frame, and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. Eachwick assembly is individually coupled to the second end portion of thewick assembly coupling member. The plurality of wick assemblies are influid communication with the chemical supply source, each wick assemblywipingly applying the chemical to the surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and theattendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readilyunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic of the an herbicide applicator system;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an herbicide applicator mechanism of thepresent invention mounted to a farming vehicle illustrating a manner inwhich the herbicide is applied to a field of furrowed crops;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an herbicide source and flow control system foruse with the applicator device of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the wiper assembly illustrating the herbicideintake manifold attached thereto with dispensing tubes distributingherbicide to the wiper assembly;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the wiper assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an herbicide intake manifold on the wiperassembly;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the top of an herbicide injectioninterface;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bottom of the herbicide injectioninterface; FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the wiper assembly takenfrom section 9—9 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the wiper assembly taken fromsection 10—10 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the wiper assembly showing the planararrangement of the array of wick sheets;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the wiper assembly taken fromsection 12—12 in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an alternate arrangement of the wiperassembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used herein, the term “herbicide” refers to a chemical formulated tokill vegetation for agricultural applications. The herbicide ispreferably in liquid form under standard temperature and pressureconditions, or a liquid solution or liquid suspension of solidherbicide. It is also understood that the present invention is notrelegated to use solely with herbicides. It is contemplated that anyform of chemical agent, such as a pesticide or fertilizer may be used,as long as the chemical agent is dispensable in liquid form.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference designators referto like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a schematic diagram of anherbicide applicator system constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention, and designated generally as 5.Herbicide applicator system 5 preferably includes: (i) a vehicle 10,(ii) an herbicide reservoir 15, (iii) a flow control apparatus 20, and(iv) one or more wiper assemblies 25. The herbicide reservoir 15 servesas the herbicide container. The flow control apparatus 20 meters andcontrols the flow of the herbicide from the herbicide reservoir 15 tothe wiper assemblies 25. Wiper assemblies 25 apply the herbicide to thevegetation to be destroyed.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in a preferred embodiment, the wiper assembly25 is mounted to the vehicle 10, along with a herbicide reservoir 15,and a flow control apparatus 20, and moved across a field of crops laidout in a commonly used configuration of crop rows 30 with furrows 35, orspaces, between the crop rows 30. One or more wiper assemblies 25 arepreferably fixed to the vehicle 10 by an elongated member, referred tomore generally as a tool bar 40.

Although any number of wiper assemblies 25 may be mounted to the toolbar 40, the preferred embodiment shows a pair of wiper assemblies 25fixed to the opposite ends of the tool bar 40 at a width such that thebottom portions of the wiper assemblies 25 fit into, travel within, andadapt to the contours of the furrows 35.

A schematic diagram of the flow control apparatus 20 is shown in FIG. 3,illustrating the manner in which herbicide is supplied to each of thewiper assemblies 25. The herbicide flows from the reservoir 15 throughconduits 45, thereafter through a cut-off valve 50, and thereafter intopiping 55. The piping 55 includes a tee 57 coupled to a discharge valve60. The herbicide exits the piping 55 and flows through a filter 65. Thefilter 65 is adapted to remove undesired impurities and particulatematter from the herbicide. After filtration, the herbicide flows througha conduit 67 into a pump 70, thereafter through conduit 72 and intopiping 73. The piping 73 includes a tee 74. Upon exiting the piping 73,the herbicide flows through another cut-off valve 75 and continuesflowing through one or more conduits 80 and tees 85 such that a singlesource conduit 90 is in fluid communication with each of the wiperassemblies 25 attached to the tool bar 40.

A pressure gauge 95 is preferably coupled to piping 73, and is employedto monitor the positive gauge pressure of the herbicide flowingdownstream of the pump 70. A return conduit 100 can also be connected tothe tee 74, thereby providing an operator with a way to re-fill thereservoir 15 when emptied.

The above-described conduits and pipes can be manufactured from anymaterial suitable for transporting liquid chemicals such as herbicides,including but not limited to: flexible polymer or rubber tubing, rigidor semi-rigid pipes made of metals, polyvinylchloride and the like.

The pump 70 may be used to either draw herbicide from the reservoir andthereby pump it at positive gauge pressure into the wiper assemblies 25,or may be used to fill the reservoir, when cut-off valves 50 and 75 areclosed and discharge valve 60 is open, with a supply of liquid herbicideconnected to the discharge fitting 105.

Although the preferred embodiment of the flow control apparatus 20includes a pump 70 to move the herbicide from the source reservoir 15 tothe wiper assemblies 25, an alternative arrangement for moving theherbicide, such as a gravity feed, may be used.

FIG. 4 shows a rear view of a wiper assembly 25 constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention. The wiperassembly 25 preferably includes a mounting bar 110, a mounting L-beam111, a wick coupling member 112, an intake manifold 113, one or moreherbicide injection interface elements 114, one or more wick-sheets 115,one or more conduits 120, a tee linkage 125, a flat mounting beam 130, astabilizing rod 135, one or more block weights 140, and an intakefitting 141.

Referring to FIG. 4, herbicide is preferably pumped at positive gaugepressure through a conduit 90 connected to a wiper assembly 25. Thewiper assembly 25 is mounted to the tool bar 40 preferably by themounting bar 110. The mounting bar 110 can be manufactured from avariety of materials, either being somewhat flexible, such as graphiteor carbon composite, or substantially rigid, such as metal orpolyvinylchloride. The mounting bar 110 is fixed at its upper end to thetool bar 40 by a rotatable tee linkage 125, such that the mounting bar110 rests at a vertical position, substantially perpendicular to theground. As herbicide is applied to the ground through a wiping action,the wiper assemblies 25 are free to rotate about the tee linkage 125axis of rotation and thus deflect with respect to the vertical restposition of the mounting bar 110.

The herbicide enters the wiper assembly 25 through an intake manifold113 incorporated therein. The intake manifold 113 includes an intakefitting 141 coupled to the conduit 90, which supplies liquid herbicideto the intake manifold 113 from the flow control apparatus 20. Herbicidethen flows from the intake manifold 113 through one or more conduits120. The end of each conduit 120 is coupled to an herbicide injectioninterface element 114. Each injection interface element 114 is disposedadjacent to the surface of a wick-sheet 115, whereby herbicide flowstherethrough to saturate and occupy the liquid-absorbing wick-sheet 115.The herbicide injection interface element 114 acts as a distributormember for the dispersal and application of herbicide into thewick-sheet 115.

The wick sheets 1 15 are mounted to the lower edge of wick couplingmember 112. Wick coupling member 112 is clamped in place between a firstmounting L-beam 111, and a second flat beam 130. Wick coupling member112 serves as an intermediate, stabilizing base element to keep the wicksheets 115 disposed in substantially one plane. The wick sheets 115 arefurther preferably arranged in a planar array of one or more layers, asmore fully described herein below. The stabilizing rod 135 is mounted toone or more of the wick sheets with block weights 140 fixably attachedto the ends of the wick sheets 115, preferably at substantially thelower end of the wick sheets 115. By mounting the stablizing rod 135across the array of wick-sheets 115 as shown in FIG. 4, the orientationof the stablizing rod 135 being transverse to the direction of travel ofthe wiper assembly 25 as herbicide is applied, the wick sheets 115 maybe kept substantially in one planar space, without deforming or curling,so as to allow for efficient application of herbicide.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the wiper assembly 25 displayed in FIG. 4.Referring now to FIG. 5, the mounting bar 110 is fixed at its lower endto a rigid L-beam 111 perpendicular thereto. The mounting bar 110 andthe rigid L-beam 111 form a frame which provides support for many otherelements of the wiper assembly 25. The mounting bar 110 is in ahorizontal position parallel to the ground and transverse to thedirection of motion of the vehicle 10. As illustrated in FIG. 5, theentire wiper assembly 25 is substantially arranged within the planesubtended in space by the mounting bar 110 and rigid L-beam 111. One ormore fastener rings 142 may be used, surrounding the conduits 120 andfixed to the wick coupling member 112, to prevent the potentialentanglement of conduits 120 with outside objects.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a plan view of an intake manifold 113mounted to the rigid L-beam 111. Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, a wickcoupling member 112 of flexible yet substantially rigid material, suchas heavy-gauge rubber or fiber-mesh, is placed at its upper end betweenthe rigid L-beam 111 and a second flat rigid beam 130 parallel thereto.Wick coupling member 112 is preferably trapezoidal in shape, wherein thelower edge is wider than the upper edge coupled between the rigid L-beam111 and the flat rigid beam 130. The rigid L-beam 111 and flat rigidbeam 130 are clamped at their respective distal ends by fasteners, suchas a nut 143 and bolt 144, so that the wick coupling member 112 istightly sandwiched therebetween. One or more clamps 145 are fixed to oneface of the flat rigid beam 130 to couple an herbicide intake manifold113 to rigid beam 130.

The intake manifold 113 is preferably comprised of a hollow element 150fitted with caps 154 at each end. The hollow element 150 is preferablytubular in shape and is fixed in place by clamps 145, and oriented in asubstantially horizontal position parallel to the flat rigid beam 130.The intake manifold 113 is further comprised of at least one inletopening 155 in the tubular element 150, allowing for the flow ofherbicide into the intake manifold 113. As shown in FIG. 5, the intakemanifold 113 is coupled to an inlet fitting 141, which is therebycoupled to the downstream end of the conduit 90 supplying herbicide fromthe flow control apparatus 20.

Referring to the intake manifold 113 shown in FIG. 6, herbicide atpositive gauge pressure flows into the intake manifold 113 whereby theherbicide is distributed and exits through one or more exit openings 165provided at the lower surface of intake manifold 113. The exit openings165 are preferably provided such that the opening diameter incombination with the positive gauge pressure of herbicide flowingtherethrough substantially evenly distributes the herbicide among exitopenings 165. Each of the exit openings 165 is fitted with acorresponding coupling 170, which is thereby coupled to a conduit 120.The lower end of each of the flexible conduits 120 is coupled to anherbicide injection interface element 114 and affixed thereto preferablyusing tensile traction between the interface element 114 and flexibleconduit 120.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a top perspective and bottom perspective,respectively, of the herbicide injection interface element 114. Theherbicide injection interface element 114 includes a conduit member 185,and a planar member 190. The conduit member 185 includes an inletopening 191 to allow for the inflow of herbicide. The planar member 190has an opening 192 therein, the opening 192 having a central axis 193,and an inlet side surface 194 and an exit side surface 198. The planarmember 190 is preferably made of a substantially rigid material, such asplastic, and preferably has a circular or polygonal shape and a largesurface area to volume ratio, like that of a credit card. The opening192 is preferably placed approximately at the center of the planarmember 190. The substantially rigid conduit member 185 passes throughthe opening 192. One end of the conduit member 185 is positioned throughthe interior of the opening 192. The exterior surface of the conduitmember 185 is secured to the contact surface of the opening 192 using asuitable adhesive, or by means of compressive traction at the contactsurfaces of the conduit member 185 and planar member 190. In thealternative, conduit member 185 can be molded as an integral part withplanar member 190.

The conduit member 185 is preferably oriented substantiallyperpendicular to the planar member 190, or in such an orientation thatallows for the conduit member 185 to be fixed to the planar member 190whereby there preferably exists a distance between the inlet end 191 ofthe conduit member 185 and the inlet side surface 194 of the planarmember 190 sufficient to allow for the herbicide injection interfaceelement 114 to be arranged in the wiper assembly 25 as described below.Alternatively, it is understood that the injection interface element 114may be designed in numerous ways, with or without an element such asconduit member 185, such that herbicide is supplied from a sourceconduit to the planar member 190, and that the embodiment disclosedherein is but only one preferred arrangement of the device.

As shown on FIG. 8, the exit side surface of the flat planar member 190is preferably covered with a matrix of fluid-permeable hook and fastenermaterial 210, such as Velcro, placed thereupon so as to enable theherbicide injection interface element 114 to be securely affixed to theplanar array of overlapping wick sheets 115, as more specificallyillustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. Alternatively, planar member 190 may bemanufactured to integrally include the matrix of fluid-permeable hooksand ridges by molding the exit side surface 198 of planar member 190 tocomprise a layer of such fluid-permeable hooks and ridges, such that thefeatures of planar member 190 and the matrix of fluid-permeable hook andfastener material 210 are combined into a single unitary element. Theexterior surface of the distal edge portion of conduit member 185protruding through opening 192 is circumscribed by a planar lip element199 attached to the conduit member 185. Planar lip element 199 has aflattened toroidal washer-like shape. Planar lip element 199 ispositioned to spatially affix the orientation of conduit member 185 toplanar member 190 such that the end of conduit member 185 (excluding theportion circumscribed by planar lip element 199) is substantially flushwith exit side surface 198.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a herbicide injection interface element 114positioned within wick sheets 115. The conduit member 185 of theherbicide injection interface element 114 is coupled to a flexibleconduit 120 to facilitate the flow of herbicide into the wick sheets115. FIG. 10 illustrates the herbicide 200 flowing into the conduitmember 185. As shown in FIG. 10, the liquid herbicide 200 flows out fromthe rigid tubular conduit member 185 and is distributed at the exit sidesurface 198 of the planar member 190 through the contact plane formedbetween the hook and fastener material 210 and the wick sheet 115.Though the combined forces of gravity, hydraulic pressure, and capillaryaction, the liquid herbicide 200 flows throughout the planar array ofwick sheets 115 such that the wick sheets 115 are substantiallysaturated. The wick sheets 115 are sufficiently saturated when herbicidepermeates the wick sheet 115 and is exposed on the exterior surfaces ofthe wick sheet 115. At this sufficient saturation level, herbicide maybe applied using a wiping action to any surface with which the wicksheet 115 comes into contact. Of course any other arrangement foraffixing the injection interface element 114 to wick sheets 115 can beused as long as a fluid path for the herbicide is provided as describedbelow.

FIG. 11 shows a preferred arrangement of wick sheets 115 attached to thewick coupling member 112 so as to allow for the application of herbicideto the desired surface. Referring now to FIG. 11, an array of planaroverlapping wick sheets 115 are attached at their upper end by fasteners220 to the lower end of the wick coupling member 112. The wick sheets115 are overlaid to form parallel planar layers placed adjacent to oneanother. Two parallel planar layers are shown in FIG. 11. Each of theindividual strips of wick sheets 115 are positioned side by side, suchthat the boundary 217 between one pair of wick sheets 115 oriented on afirst layer is overlaid at approximately the midpoint of another wicksheet 115 in a second adjacent layer.

The wick sheets 115 are preferably made of a suitable substantiallyflexible, liquid-absorbing material, such as a dense woven fabric orsynthetic polymer mesh, so as to absorb a substantial amount ofherbicide flowing from the plurality of injection interface elements 114embedded between the parallel planar array of wick sheets 115.

It is emphasized that the foregoing spatial arrangement of the wicksheets 115 is only one example of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. Any number of alternative arrangements may be used so as toprovide for the application of herbicide using herbicide-saturated wicksapplied to a desired contact surface using a wiping action. For example,although FIG. 11 shows an array of parallel planar wick sheets 115 ofsubstantially equal length, the arrangement of wick sheets 115 can alsoincorporate individual wick sheets 115 of varying length.

FIG. 12 is cross-sectional view of the wick sheets 115, illustrating thecapability of the wick sheets 115 to deform and thereby conform to thedesired application surface. Due to the flexibility of the parallelplanar array of wick sheets 115, as illustrated by the hash-lines inFIG. 12, the liquid herbicide is applied in such a manner as to allowthe wiper assembly 25 to substantially deform and conform to thecontours of the ground in the furrows 35. This enables the herbicide toefficiently cover the targeted surfaces and be applied with a minimum ofwaste, because the wick sheets 115 are saturated only to the point ofallowing the herbicide to adhere to an exterior surface through contactand not through excess dripping. Of course, this result is contingent onthe user effectively metering the overall flow of herbicide through theapparatus so that the wick sheets 115 are not excessively saturated. Itis understood that the particular level of wick sheet 115 saturationrequired for the efficient operation of the device can be ascertained bythe user through (i) repeated iterative operation of the device, or (ii)by observing the flow of herbicide as it is applied, and accordinglymaking subsequent adjustments to the flow control apparatus 20 andsubsequent corresponding herbicide flow rate through the apparatus.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 12, a rigid stabilizing rod 135 is optionallyplaced horizontally at the lower end of the planar array of wick sheets,being parallel thereto and secured at either end thereof by a solidblock weight 140. The rigid stabilizing rod 135 serves to prevent thehighly flexible array of wick sheets 115 from becoming entangled. Thisallows the array of wick sheets 115 to substantially remain in a singleplane so as to enable uniform application of herbicide onto the ground.

In operation, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the parallel planar arrayof wick sheets 115 of the wiper assembly 25 is dragged behind thevehicle 10 through a furrow 35 in a field so as to apply liquidherbicide onto any vegetation growing therein. The weeds and otherundesired vegetation in the furrows 35 come into contact with theherbicide, and the desired response, such as killing the weeds, isfacilitated.

FIG. 13 shows another aspect of the invention, in which the parallelplanar array of wick sheets has preferably been replaced by a pluralityof individual co-planar wick assemblies 230. The wick assemblies 230include a planar wick sheet 235 coupled to at least one injectioninterface element 114, and are fixably attached to a tool bar 240, byone or more elongated members 245, preferably made of an elasticallydeformable solid material, such as a graphite, fiberglass, or polymerrod. The herbicide is again supplied via an inlet tube 250 to a manifold255, and thereby distributed to the individual co-planar wick sheets 235by flexible conduits 260. At the end of each flexible conduit, aninjection interface element 114 is provided and used in a manner similarto that of the previously discussed embodiment. Each individual planarwick sheet 235 is further spread out to retain a substantially planarshape by a reinforcement sheet 265. Reinforcement sheet 265 ispreferably made of a substantially rigid material, such as plastic orwire-mesh.

The present invention therefore advantageously provides a system whichallows a chemical such as a non-selective herbicide to be safely appliedto undesired vegetation, such as weeds growing in a furrow, in a mannerwhich does not waste chemical product, and applies the chemical to theundesired vegetation without disturbing the desired vegetation. Byapplying the chemical to the surface via a wiping action, the presentinvention is useful for direct surface contact with undesired vegetationgrowth as well as contact with a surface which may have undesiredseedlings or ungerminated undesired seeds.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the presentinvention is not limited to what has been particularly shown anddescribed herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above tothe contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawingsare not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possiblein light of the above teachings without departing from the scope andspirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A chemical applicator apparatus for applying achemical from a chemical supply source to a surface, comprising: aninterface element in fluid communication with a respective fluiddistribution opening, the interface element receiving the chemical flowfrom the fluid distribution opening; a wick sheet in fluid communicationwith the interface element, the wick sheet absorbing the chemical flowfrom the interface element; an intake manifold having a fluid receivingopening, the fluid receiving opening receiving a chemical flow from thechemical supply source, and a fluid distribution opening, the fluiddistribution opening distributing the received chemical flow; a frame,the intake manifold being coupled to the frame; and a wick couplerhaving a first end coupled to the frame, and a second end opposite thefirst end, the second end being coupled to the wick sheet; wherein theinterface element is comprised of a chemical dispersal member having afirst surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and anopening having a central axis, the opening forming a passage connectingthe first surface and second surface, and a conduit member, the conduitmember being centered about the central axis of the correspondingopening, the conduit member having a receiving opening, the receivingopening being in fluid communication with the intake manifold, adistribution opening opposite the receiving opening, the distributionopening being coupled to the first surface of the chemical dispersalmember; and a material permeable to fluid, the material being adherableto at least a portion of the second surface and the wick sheet, thematerial dispersing the chemical about the second surface and into thewick sheet.
 2. The chemical applicator apparatus according to claim 1,wherein a plurality of wick sheets are arranged in a plurality ofparallel planar arrays, and a plurality of interface elements aredisposed substantially between the parallel planar arrays.
 3. Thechemical applicator apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least onewick sheet has a first length and at least one other wick sheet has asecond length different from the first length.
 4. The chemicalapplicator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a stabilizing blockmember is coupled to the wick sheet.
 5. The chemical applicatorapparatus according to claim 4, wherein a stabilizing rod is coupled toa plurality of stabilizing block members.
 6. The chemical applicatorapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wick sheet is comprised ofone of a dense woven fabric and a synthetic polymer mesh.
 7. Thechemical applicator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of aplurality of wick couplers are arranged to couple a corresponding wicksheet to the frame.
 8. The chemical applicator apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the chemical is an herbicide.
 9. A chemical applicatorapparatus for applying a chemical from a chemical supply source to asurface, comprising: a frame; and a wick assembly coupling member havinga first end portion being adjustably coupled to the frame, a second endportion opposite the first end, and a plurality of wick assemblies, eachof the plurality of wick assemblies being coupled to the second endportion of a corresponding wick assembly coupling member, the pluralityof wick assemblies being in fluid communication with the chemical supplysource, each wick assembly wipingly applying the chemical to thesurface; wherein the wick assembly comprises a wick sheet, areinforcement sheet having an end portion, the reinforcement sheet beingfixedly coupled the wick sheet at least at the end portion, and aninterface element disposed between the wick sheet and the reinforcementsheet, the interface element being in fluid communication with thechemical supply source; and wherein the interface element is comprisedof a chemical dispersal member having a first surface; a second surfaceopposite the first surface; and an opening having a central axis, theopening forming a passage connecting the first surface and secondsurface; and a conduit member, the conduit member being centered aboutthe central axis of a corresponding opening, the conduit member having areceiving opening, the receiving opening being in fluid communicationwith the chemical supply source; and a distribution opening opposite thereceiving opening, the distribution opening being coupled to the firstsurface of the chemical dispersal member.
 10. The chemical applicatorapparatus according to claim 9, wherein at least one wick sheet has afirst length and at least one other wick sheet has a second lengthdifferent from the first length.
 11. The chemical applicator apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein the chemical is an herbicide.
 12. Thechemical applicator apparatus according to claim 9, wherein theplurality of wick assembly coupling members are elastically deformable.